By Kamilah Moore, Janay Williams and Darren Ramalho
The Afrikan Student Union at UCLA has a rich history on the UCLA campus dating back to 1966. One of the strongest black student demands in 1967 and 1968 was for the creation of a Center for Afro-American Studies. In fact, two black UCLA students, Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter and John Jerome Huggins Jr., who were leaders in the Black Panther Party and also participants in the High Potential Program, UCLA’s first and the nation’s second special action admissions program, were murdered in Campbell Hall during talks of the program’s future.
Consequently, progress slowed and five years later, in the 1974-1975 academic year, the Afro-American studies interdepartmental program was founded. Almost 40 years later, on Friday, Dec. 6 2013 the Undergraduate Council within the UCLA Academic Senate is set to vote on the proposal to convert the existing academic Interdepartmental Program in Afro-American Studies at UCLA to an academic department that will be called the Department of African American Studies and be housed in the Division of the Social Sciences in the College of Letters and Science.
From the very beginning of American history, black Americans have formed an economically, socially and culturally significant part of America. Despite the obvious importance of black Americans however, neither the public at large nor scholars at UCLA know much about their precise role in American society, about the scope, quality and significance of their contributions to American culture or about the impact of their actions on the attitudes and institutions of American society and the global community.
The benefits of departmentalization are numerous. A department will attract more undergraduates, graduates and faculty to UCLA and promote greater retention of black scholars and students. For the over-100 undergraduate students that choose to major or minor in Afro-American studies, and for the approximate 1,200 enrollment seats for Afro-American courses each academic year, departmentalization will allow for a larger variety of classes and added support from faculty and community members.
For UCLA faculty members already doing work in the area of African American studies, departmentalization will provide much-needed funds to finance projects and more effective facilitation of the exchange of ideas and information. For the larger university faculty, it will serve as a source of information that faculty members may be able to use in their own areas of special interest. Thus, the departmentalization of the Afro-American studies program would further demonstrate a commitment by the university to celebrate diversity and further legitimize the importance of the black experience as a valid educational focus.
Traditionally, study centers have been academic institutions directing their main thrust to research and the proliferation of printed material. This kind of exclusive academic institution would have no relevance to the black community. Black people cannot afford the luxury of any institution which separates thought from action. Commitment must in part be measured by devotion and work. The Afrikan Student Union, in collaboration with the Undergraduate Students Association Council Academic Affairs Commission, will do everything in its power to educate the student body as to why the departmentalization of the Afro-American studies program is important and will work to ensure that the department is well-supported for years to come.
Moore is the chair of the Afrikan Student Union. Williams is a member of the Academic Climate Committee of the Academic Affairs Commission. Ramalho is the USAC academic affairs commissioner.